Finland's Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade Alexander Stubb said Sunday that allegations that the US has bugged and hacked European Union offices came as a complete surprise. However, the claims, he added, should not be allow to delay scheduled free trade talks.

Stubb considers the claims to be a serious matter.

"You shouldn't spy on your buddies," he said in an interview with Yle.

European Parliament Deputy Speaker Isabelle Durant on Sunday raised the prospect of putting off scheduled free trade talks between the US and the EU because of the spying allegations.

"In the free trade negotiations we know precisely what we think of each other and what our positions are. This is a matter of trust. If trust is broken, the consequences are serious," stated Stubb.

(06-30-2013, 10:08 PM)Octo Wrote: Finland's Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade Alexander Stubb said Sunday that allegations that the US has bugged and hacked European Union offices came as a complete surprise. However, the claims, he added, should not be allow to delay scheduled free trade talks.

Stubb considers the claims to be a serious matter.

"You shouldn't spy on your buddies," he said in an interview with Yle.

European Parliament Deputy Speaker Isabelle Durant on Sunday raised the prospect of putting off scheduled free trade talks between the US and the EU because of the spying allegations.

"In the free trade negotiations we know precisely what we think of each other and what our positions are. This is a matter of trust. If trust is broken, the consequences are serious," stated Stubb.

". . . Postal Service computers photograph the exterior of every piece of paper mail that is processed in the United States — about 160 billion pieces last year."

"In the past, mail covers were used when you had a reason to suspect someone of a crime,” "Now it seems to be ‘Let’s record everyone’s mail so in the future we might go back and see who you were communicating with.’ Essentially you’ve added mail covers on millions of Americans.”

"Looking at just the outside of letters and other mail, I can see who you bank with, who you communicate with. . .” "It can be easily abused because it’s so easy to use and you don’t have to go through a judge to get the information. You just fill out a form.”